Judith Anne Barker was born February 12, 1933, in Amarillo, Texas, to Ollie T. and Henrietta Barker.  Having survived the Dust Bowl years in West Texas during her early childhood, her family moved to Alvin, Texas, where her father, Ollie, a Texas A&M grad, became the Industrial Arts teacher at Alvin HIgh School. Ollie's Industrial Arts classroom building was next to the Band Hall and their family home was directly across the street from the High School.  So, Judie, from the age of 6, hanging out with her dad at school, was enamored with the Alvin HIgh School Band and became a prominent band member throughout her school years.  She graduated from Alvin HIgh School at the age of 16 and enrolled at North Texas State Teacher's College (now known as the University of North Texas).

In the meantime, Ivan Goodwin of Ennis, Texas, was being honorably discharged from the Air Force and enrolled simultaneously at North Texas in 1949. Their connection soon began. After college graduations, they were married in 1952 and moved to Ivan's hometown.  Ivan took over the Ennis Band Program and Judie taught English in Palmer for one year and then in Ennis, where she remained for the rest of her teaching career.  She began teaching elementary music in 1960 and also played piano full time for many, many years at Tabernacle Baptist Church and then for a short time at First Christian Church.  Both Judie and Ivan continued successful teaching careers as Gary was born in 1955 and Tollie in 1959. After 22 years as Head Band Director, Ivan moved into Ennis ISD Administration as Assistant Superintendent in the fall of 1974 and Judie soon began a career as Assistant Band Director, which lasted 17 years under Head Directors John Blassingame, Larry Ward, and Harvey Durham in succession. Close family friends, Dale Coates and Tom Guidry, served as long time assistants on those Ennis Band staffs as well.

Throughout her career as an educator, Judie was a member of various educational organizations, including: Texas State Teachers Association, Texas Music Educators Association, Texas Bandmasters Association and Phi Beta Mu International Bandmasters Fraternity. She continued to remain active in the Texas Music Educators Association well into her retirement years, which speaks greatly of her passion for music.

Judie retired from 36 years of teaching as she and Ivan began a series of hobbies including an excellent professional photography business. In retirement, they traveled throughout Europe and elsewhere, including multiple visits to Ennis, Ireland, where they made many friends and strongly connected the towns of Ennis, Texas, and Ennis, Ireland. Ivan passed away in 2007 and Judie continued living in the family home until her health issues preceded a move to assisted living in 2021.

Judie is survived by son Gary and his wife, Sandi; Granddaughter Meredith Goodwin Munger, her husband, Jeff, and their sons, Jeffery and Jackson; Granddaughter Taylor Goodwin and Cody Morris; Granddaughter Andrea Watson and her husband, Jesse, and their children, Tessa and Cole; nieces Vicki Jacobs, Margo Wissner and their families; brother-in-law Don Wissner.

She is preceded in death by her husband, Ivan Goodwin; her sister, Nona Barker Wissner, her parents, Ollie T. and Henrietta Barker, her son Tollie Goodwin, and her grandson, Jay Goodwin.

Judie also leaves behind her friends and 2 of the 3 J's, Joyce Gunn and Joanne Hodge.

Special thanks to friend and caregiver, Carolyn Brown, Traditions Hospice, and the staff at Brookdale Waxahachie.

VISITATION will be held Friday, August 29, 2025 from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m. at the J. E. Keever Mortuary, 408 N. Dallas Street in Ennis, Texas.

CELEBRATION OF LIFE service will be held Saturday, August 30, 2025 at 10 a.m. in the Keever Chapel at 408 N. Dallas Street in Ennis.

Interment will follow in Myrtle Cemetery, under the direction of J. E. Keever Mortuary, Inc.